Sign holder



March 19, 1929. H. .1. GINSJBERG 1,705,564

' slay HOLDER Filed April 17, 1928 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Q nag? s? 6- x xi ' Inventor .ZYarry 1']: Ginsberg- Patented Mar. 19, 1929 UNITEQ STATES earner @FFHCE}.

tress-64 HARRY JoEeINsnERG, or AMARILLO, TEXAS, ASSIGNOR T0 STANDARD SAFETY" CLAMP ooMrsNY, or AMARILLO, TEXAS, A conronn'rron or DELAWARE.

SIGN HOLDER.

Application. filed April 17, 1928. Serial No. 270,771.

I The present invention relates'to improvements in sign holders and has reference more particularly to a holder for a placard for use upon tank cars containing inflammable liquids.

In the transportation of inflammableliquids stored in railroad tank cars, it is required by law that a placard identifying the car and its contents be displayed and upon loading a tank car with inflammable liquids it is the common'practice to tack signs upon boards arranged on the carat four conspicuous places. When the car reaches its destination and the same 1S unloaded it is required that the placard be removed. Usually in remov-- ing the placards from their respective boards upon which the same have been tacked or nailed, the placards are torn and destroyed.

It is therefore one of the principal aims of the present invention to provide a placard holder which will enable the placard to be properly displayed for view while the tank car is in a loaded condition, the placard being readily removed and reversedin its holder after the car has been emptied.

' A further object is to provide a sign holder of the above mentioned character which is of such construction as to positively secure the sign or placard in position and against eing accidentally displaced from its holder, said holder embodying a spring clamp constructed in the form of a frame so that the indicating indicia on the card will notbe ob structed while the'card is arranged on the holder. l

Still a further-object is to provide asign holder of the above mentioned character whichis simple in construction, inexpensive, strong and durable and further well adapted to the purpose'for which it is designed.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent from the following description when taken in connection with the accompanying drawings. 7

In the accompanying drawings wherein like reference characters indicate corresponding parts throughout the several views Figure 1 is a side elevation of the sign holder embodying my invention, showing a sign supported thereon.

Figure 2 is a vertical sectional view taken approximately on the line 22 of Figure 1.

Figure 3 is a view similar to Figure 2 show.- ing the main frame in a partially open position.- 7

.Figure 4L is a detail main spring frame.

Figure 5 is sectional view taken approximately on the line 55 of Figure 1 for more clearly disclosing the d-bolt, and

Figure 6 isa view similar to Figure 1 showing a modification wherein two sign holders are employed. 1 V

In the drawings wherein for the purpose of illustration is shown the preferred embodiment of my invention, the numeral 1 designates the base of my improved sign or'placar-d holder, the same being preferably constructed of wood.

Extending transversely through the lower portion of the rectangular shaped base 1 adjacent the respective side edges thereof are the J-bolts 2. The threaded-ends of these belts extend through the rear sides of the base and have arranged thereon the nuts 3, while: the hooked ends of the bolts extendinto the perspective View of the front side of the base, as shown. veryclearly in Figure 5 of the drawings. 1

Forming an important part of the present,

the numeral 6, thesame being formed from a single strand of spring wire. The sides of the rectangular frame 6 are designated by the numerals 7 and 8,. respectively, while the top and bottom portions are denoted'by the numerals 9 and 10, respectivelyfand as is clearly shown in Figure-4E, one-end of the wire is formed with an eye which receives the other end.

The top portion 9 of the frame 6 has its intermediate portion bent outwardly to form a finger engaging bend 11 for the purpose of actuating the main clamping frame, as will be presently described.

The base portion 10 of the rectangular frame 6 extends through the hooked ends of the bolts 2, and in this manner, the frame is capable of vertical swinging movement. A pair of axial coil springs 12 encircle the bottom portion 10 of the frame 6 adjacent the respective sides of said frame, and each spring member is so constructedas to provide a relatively short arm 13 and a relatively long arm 14 at its ends. The shorter arm of each axial coil spring is disposed laterally through a transverse opening formed therefor in the base 1 whereby the inner ends of the axial coil springs are anchored to the base as clearly The bowed portionsof the arms 14 project inwardly beyond the inner faces of the arms or sides of the frame 6 for a purpose to be presently apparent, and also it is to be observed that the axial coil springs are formed of relatively fine wire so that the bowed elongated arms can be easily flexed.

These. axial coil springs cooperate with the main clamping frame to normally hold the same against the front face of the base 1,

and when a placard A having suitable indicia on the front face thereof isto be supported on the Sign board, the frame 6 is swung outwardly away from the sign board by graspingthe finger engaging portion 11, and then the placard Ais placed against the front face of the base. with the lower edge of the placard resting on the inwardly disposed shorter arms 13 of the axial coil springs 12. As soon as the upper portion of the frame 6 is released, the axial coil springs will swing the frame 6 inwardly toward the base. However, the bowed portions of the arms 14 will initially engage the lower portion of the placard, but will not interfere with the main clamping frame properly engaging with the placard. In this manner, the sign will be positively secured in position on the holder, and the frame will not interfere with the reading of the indicia on the sign.

.The sign holder is particularly adapted to be used on tank cars containing inflammable liquid, and the placard contains suitable identification matter with reference to the tank car and the contents thereof The sign holder is mounted in any suitable manner on the tank car, and when the car is loaded, the placard with its proper indicating matter is placed in the sign holder. When the car is unloaded, the placard is removed and reversed in the sign holder, thus obviating the necessity of having to destroy the placard and permitting the same to be used indefinitely.

- The sign holder may be equally as well used inv conjunction with displaying other types of signs, and it is to. be understood that I do not wish to limit myself to the use of the. sign holder only in connection with tank cars containing inflammable liquids.

In Figure 6 of the drawings, I have shown a modification. wherein two rectangular clamping frames are provided for holding signs on a suitable base In this instance, the base is designated by the numeral 16 and three J-bolts 17 extend through the base at spaced intervals.

An elongated strand of spring wire has one end portion 18. disposed horizontally through the hooked ends of the spaced J-bolts 17.

Said strand of wire is then bent upwardly as at 19, and thence laterally as at 20 and then downwardly asat 21 to form a rectangular frame 22, the lower end of the downwardly disposed portion being bent around the intermediate portion of the horizontal end portion 18.

An additional strand of wire is bent into substantiallyinverted U-shaped formation as shown at Figure 6 and the free ends of the arms of this. inverted U-shaped frame 22 are bent around the horizontal portion 18 for disposition adjacent the other frame formed from the wire 18. The top portion of each of these frames 22 and 22 has its intermediate portion bent outwardly to form a finger engaging member 23 whereby said frames may be independently moved away fromthe base scription that I have provided a sign holder I which can be manufacturedat a verylow cost,

and due to its simplicity, can be readily and easily operated to facilitate the insertion or removal of a placard therefrom.

While I have shown the preferred embodi-v ment of my invention it. is to be understood that. minor changes in the size, shape and arrangement of parts may be resorted to with I out, departing from the spirit of the invention or the scope of the. appended claims.

Having thus described the invention, what I claim as new and desire to.- secure. by Letters Patent is a i J 1. a In a sign holder of the class described, a base, a rectangular shaped clamping frame, hooked bolts extending transversely through the base, the hooked ends.- of the bolts receiving the base portion of the frame to provide a. pivotal connection for said frame whereby said frame is capable of Vertical swinging movement, a pair of axial coil springs eneir cling the base portion of the frame adjacent thesides thereof, the inner opposed ends of the springs being directed inwardly into the base and providing a support for the lower edge of the sign, the outer ends. of the axial coil springs being directed upwardly and engaged with the respective sides ofthe frame for nor? mally holding the same in clamping engage ment with the sign, 1 I

2. In a sign holder of the class described, a, base, a rectangular shaped clamp-ing frame, hooked bolts extending transverselythrough the base, thehooked ends of they bolts receiv ing the base portion of the. frame to provide a pivotal connection for said frame whereby said frame is capable of vertical swinging movement, a pair of axial coil springs encircling the base portion of the frame adjacent the sides thereof, the inner opposed ends of the springs being directed inwardly into the base and providing a support for the lower edge of the sign, the outer ends of the axial coil springs being directed upwardly and engaged with the respective sides of the frame for normally holding the same in clamping engagement with the sign, said outer end por tions of the axial coil springs being bowed inwardly to initially engage with the adjacent portions of the sign, the sides and top portion of the frame subsequently engaging with the s1 11.

In a sign holder of the class described, a base, a rectangular shaped clamping frame, hooked bolts extending transversely through the base, the hooked ends of the bolts receiving the base portion of the frame to provide a pivotal connection for said frame whereby said frame is capable of vertical swinging movement, a pair of axial coil springs encircling the base portion of the frame adjacent the sides thereof, the inner opposed ends of the springs being directed inwardly into the base and providing a support for the lower edge of the sign, the outer ends of the axial coil springs being directed upwardly and engaged with the respective sides of the frame for normally holding the same in clamping engagement with the sign, said outer end portions of the axial coil springs being bowed inwardly to initially engage with the adjacent portions of the sign, the sides and top portion of the frame subsequently engaging with the sign, the top portion of the frame having its intermediate portion bent outward to form a finger engaging portion to facilitate outward swinging movement of the frame.

4. In a sign holder, a base, a frame pivotally secured at the bottom portion thereof on said base, and a pair of axial coil springs encircling the base portion of the frame adjacent the side thereof, the inner opposed ends of the springs being secured to the base, the outer ends of the axial coil springs being directed upwardly into embracing engagement with the respective sides of the frame normally holding the same in clamping engagement with the sign, said outer end portions of the axial coil spring being bowed inwardly to initially engage with the adjacent portions of he sign, the sides of the frame subsequently engaging with the sign. 1

In testimony whereof I afiix my signature.

HARRY JOE GINSBERG. 

